MEGHAN MARKLE has followed in the footsteps of the Queen after being named as patron of the National Theatre, a BBC correspondent has claimed.

Meghan Markle has taken on the role of four royal patronages that are linked to the arts, access to education, animal welfare and support for women. BBC News correspondent Richard Lister claimed the announcements were evidence of a “shift” within the Royal Family with responsibilities moving to newer members. He said: “These are the first four organisations why which she is to be formally associated.

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“I think there is a lot of interest in seeing exactly the direction she plans to take her membership of the royal family.

“Kensington Palace says all four of these organisations reflect something that the Duchess of Sussex has been involved with for really quite some time.

“Obviously given her acting background, the National Theatre is perhaps not a surprise. It is an organisation for which the Queen was a patron for 45-years, and she has passed that patronage on to Meghan.

“As she has with the Association of Common Wealth Universities, where The Queen held for 33 years, and she has passed that on to Meghan as well.

Meghan Markle is following in the footsteps of the Queen with her new patronages (Image: GETTY)

Clearly this is a marking of a shifting within the Royal Family, moving some of those responsibilities towards the newer members

BBC News correspondent Richard Lister

“Clearly this is a marking of a shifting within the Royal Family, moving some of those responsibilities towards the newer members.”

The Queen has passed two patronages to the Duchess of Sussex as she seeks to step back from royal duties.

The Duchess of Sussex will take on the responsibilities as the patron of the National Theatre and as Patron the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

Meghan will also become a Patron for Smart Works which helps unemployed and vulnerable women by giving them skills and confidence to succeed in job interviews, and Mayhew, which helps animals in need through “education initiatives and preventative veterinary care”.

A statement on the palace’s website said: “The Duchess is delighted to become Patron of both national and grassroots organisations that are part of the fabric of the UK, and is very much looking forward to working with them to bring wider public attention to their causes.

“Her Royal Highness feels she can use her position to focus attention on, and make a particular difference to these organisations and, more widely, the sectors they each represent.”

Director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, said: "I would like to thank the Queen for Her Majesty's long and unwavering support and service to the National Theatre.

"We were honoured when the Queen became our patron in 1974 and have celebrated many moments together including, in recent years, the Diamond Jubilee and the marking of our 50th anniversary.

"It is a privilege to welcome the Duchess of Sussex as our new patron. TheDuchessshares our deeply held conviction that theatre has the power to bring together people from all communities and walks of life. I very much look forward to working closely with Her Royal Highness in the years to come."